Thousands of Kenyan teachers are set to receive improved healthcare benefits under the Social Health Authority (SHA) after the government held talks with teachers’ unions over growing concerns about access to specialised treatment, including IVF and cancer care.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the measures on Thursday, September 17, following a high-level consultative meeting involving the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), SHA and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The meeting focused on challenges affecting the implementation of the Mwalimu Comprehensive Medical Cover under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF), with teachers raising concerns over access to essential and specialised medical services.
Duale said the discussions were aimed at strengthening the scheme and ensuring teachers receive timely, dignified and quality healthcare without unnecessary delays or administrative hurdles.
“Chaired a joint consultative meeting with KUPPET and the Social Health Authority (SHA) to review implementation of the Mwalimu Comprehensive Medical Cover under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF), address emerging challenges and strengthen access to timely, dignified and quality healthcare for teachers,” Duale said.
IVF, Cancer Treatment Among Key Concerns
Among the issues discussed were access to in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, oncology services, chronic disease management, monthly prescriptions, specialised medical care and last-expense services for teachers.
The government is also reviewing ways of expanding specialised treatment available within Kenya, including advanced cancer care and bone marrow transplant services.
Duale noted that SHA currently has 7,031 contracted healthcare facilities across the country, including 122 facilities providing haemato-oncology services.
“SHA currently has 7,031 contracted healthcare facilities, including 122 haemato-oncology facilities, while efforts are underway to expand specialised services such as Bone Marrow Transplant within the country,” he added.
The expansion is expected to reduce the need for patients requiring specialised treatment to travel long distances or seek care outside the country.
New Measures to Track Teachers’ Complaints
The Ministry of Health and teachers’ representatives also agreed on measures to improve how complaints raised by beneficiaries are handled.
Under the new arrangements, medical incidents reported by teachers will be prioritised, while healthcare facilities found failing to comply with SHA requirements could face action.
The government will also introduce monthly implementation reports to monitor how the Mwalimu Comprehensive Medical Cover is performing and identify problems requiring urgent intervention.
A simplified SHA benefits guide is also being developed to help teachers and other beneficiaries understand exactly which services are covered and how they can access them.
Teachers Raise Concerns Over SHA Transition
The latest intervention follows months of complaints from teachers following the transition from the previous Minet Kenya medical scheme to SHA.
Some teachers have reported being turned away from major private hospitals because of difficulties with the new SHA systems, incomplete integration and administrative challenges.
In some cases, the problems have raised concerns over access to emergency treatment and other services that teachers expected to receive through their medical cover.
Teachers have also complained about changes to their benefits, with some saying they have been forced to meet out-of-pocket costs for services that were previously covered under the former medical scheme.
The government’s latest engagement with teachers’ unions is therefore expected to address both access and implementation challenges as SHA continues to refine the Mwalimu Comprehensive Medical Cover.
The measures will now be closely watched by teachers across the country, particularly those requiring regular medication, specialised treatment and costly procedures such as cancer care and fertility treatment.
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